Percussion instrument



April 22, 1969 5 CQHEN PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT Filed April 14, 1967INVENTOR. 4/4/1 77 8. CONE/V United States Patent 3,439,572 PERCUSSIONINSTRUMENT Martin B. Cohen, 230 Parkway, Maywood, NJ. 07607 Filed Apr.14. 1967, Ser. No. 630,969 Int. Cl. Gd 13/08 US. Cl. 84-402 8 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an apparatus forsimulating v the sound of a Latin American percussion instrument.

More specifically, this invention relates to a novel device forsimulating the sound of a jawbone percussion instrument.

In the accompaniment of Latin American music, various percussioninstruments are employed to add rhythm to the music. One of theseinstruments commonly found in many Latin American bands is the jawbone.The jawbone consists of the jaw of an animal, such as a horse orjackass. After the jawbone is dried, the teeth become loose so that whenthe musician holds the entire jawbone by the chin in one hand, andstrikes the cheek with the other, the teeth will rattle within thehollow chamber of the jaw to produce a percussion-like sound; One of thedisadvantages of using a natural jawbone to produce the percussionsounds is its inherent weakness at its chin portion. Moreover, naturaljawbones are not readily obtainable in great quantities and are oftendifficult to replace when they become broken.

The apparatus according to the invention provides an instrument capableof simulating the sound of a natural jawbone as well as providingvariations in the sound qualities while being played as a percussioninstrument. The apparatus is constructed from readily availiblematerials and unlike its natural counterpart, may be massproduced inlarge quantities. Moreover, the instrument according to the invention,is constructed in such a way as to be almost unbreakable and to providelong life and utility during its use by musicians.

The percussion instrument according to the invention includes a soundchamber secured to the end of a rod and capable of transmittingvibration from its free end to the sound chamber. The sound chamberincludes a cavity having a plurality of demountably coupled elementsadapted to strike one or both sides of the chamber during vibration. Therod connected to the sound chamber is bent into a U-shaped configurationso that it may be held by one hand. One may then strike the free end ofthe bar with his other hand or against a flat object to play theinstrument. A striking ball is secured to the free end of the rod tofacilitate being struck against a fiat surface. The vibration impartedto the rod and transmitted to the sound chamber may be dampened by themusician squeezing his hand around the rod while the instrument isplayed.

The percussion instrument according to the invent-ion may also includeone or more tambourine jingles demountably secured against the walls ofits sound chamber. When the instrument is in use, the elements whichvibrate within the sound chamber produce at the mouth of the chamber asound which more closely simulates that of its natural counterpart.Moreover, the magnitude and duration of vibration transmitted by thesound chamber may be more carefully controlled by the musician duringthe playing of the instrument.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to providea percussion instrument which simulates the sound of a natural jawbonepercussion instrument.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide apercussion instrument for use in Latin American music which simulatesthe sound of a natural jawbone and is constructed from readily availablematerials.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide apercussion instrument which simulates the sound of a natural jawbone andwhich is simple in design, easy to manufacture and which provides a longoperating life.

Other object-s and features of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings which disclose the embodimentsof the present invention. It should be understood, however, that thedraw ings are designed for the purpose of illustration only, and not asa definition of the limits of the invention as to which reference shouldbe made in the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein similar reference characters denote similarelements throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the percussioninstrument according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly in cross-section of anotherembodiment of the instrument according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the sound chamber of still anotherembodiment of the instrument according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown one embodiment of the instrumentaccording to the invention having a sound chamber 14 secured to the end13 of a rod 11. Sound chamber 14 includes a V-shaped section 25 formingan open cavity between walls 15 and 16. Supported within the cavityintermediate walls 15 and 16 is bar 18. Bar 18 includes along its lengtha plurality of equally-spaced holes into which are slida-bly mounted anequal number of pins 17. The length of pins 17 has been designed to beslightly less than the space between walls 15 and 16- to permit the endsof the pins to strike against both internal wall surfaces.

Secured to the opposite end of rod 11 is a striking ball 10 which whenstruck against a flat surface imparts vibrational energy to soundchamber 14. Midway along rod 11 is a U-shaped portion 12 which serves asa hand grip for the musician playing the instrument. U-shaped portion 12also serves as an extension of rod 11 over which the musician may applydamping to the vibrational energy transmitted along the rod by squeezingits hand tightly against the surface of rod 11. Rod 11 may beconstructed from any rigid material, such as metal, capable oftransmitting vibrational energy to sound chamber 14. Striking ball 10may also be constructed from any hard material, such as wood, plastic ormetal. Sound chamber 14 may be constructed from materials such as wood,plastic or metal which display good acoustical qualities. Likewise,support 18 and pins 17 may be constructed of similar materials capableof producing percussion sound within the cavity of chamber 14. Soundchamber 14 may be formed from a single intergra-l construct-ioncomprising V-shaped member 25 and walls 15 and 16. The base of V-shapedmember 25 has an increased thickness in order :to rigidly secure thesound chamber to end 13 of rod 11 so as to permit substantially all ofthe energy imparted to the rod to transfer into the sound chamber 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown another embodiment of the soundchamber according to the invent-ion secured to the end of rod 11,utilizing a plurality of spaced elements 21, slidably secured to studs20. Elements 21 are free to vibrate against the internal surface of wall16 of sound chamber 14. The flat heads on the ends of studs 20 preventelements 21 from becoming disengaged during the playing of theinstrument. Elements 21 may be con structed as cylinders or otherobjects capable of striking against wall 16.

In another embodiment of the instrument according to the invention,tambourine jingles may be secured against one of the walls of soundchamber 14, as shown in FIG. 3. Each of the studs 23, secured to wall15, include a pair of tambourine jingles 22 which are free to strike thesurface of wall 15 or the head of stud 23. Tambourine jingles 22 may besecured to either of the embodiments of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 to provideadditional percussion sound during the playing of the instrument.Tambourines 22 may also be silenced by the insertion of a restrainingdevice such as a spring clip or pad between the tambourine and thesurface of wall 15.

In an actual embodiment of the invention the sound chamber wasconstructed with a length of 3 /2 inches and a depth of approximately 1inch. The opening of the cavity was approximately 3 inches and tapereddown along the length of the sound chamber to a width of 1 inch at itsconnection to rod 11. Rod 11 was constructed from inch diameter barstock. Upon striking the end of bar 11, the instrument was found toproduce a percussion sound consisting of a rattling noise simulatingthat of a natural jawbone and having an undamped duration ofapproximately 2 to 3 seconds.

Aside from the instruments obvious use as a percussion device toaccompany Latin American music, it may also be utilized as a toy, soundprop, or decorative device. The instrument, being simply constructed,may be easily mass produced and sold at a cost considerably less thanthat of its natural counterpart.

What is claimed is:

1. A percussion instrument comprising,

a sound chamber, having a cavity with at least one open portion,

support means secured to said chamber within said cavity, a plurality ofspaced-apart elements slidably coupled to said support means and adaptedto strike at least one wall of said chamber, and

a vibratory rod member secured to, and external of said sound chamber,and having a hand grip along its length, for imparting sustainedvibrations to said chamber.

2. The instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said support means is abar having a plurality of spaced holes, and said elements are pinscontained within said spaced holes and adapted to strike at least onewall of said chamber.

3. The instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said support means area plurality of studs secured to at least one wall of said chamber, andsaid elements are masses slidably impailed on said studs and in contactwith said wall.

4. The instrument as recited in claim 1, wherein said rod memberadditionally comprises a striking ball secured to its opposite end.

5. The instrument as recited in claim 4, wherein said rod memberincludes a U-shaped section integrally formed along its length, saidsection having a length sufiicient to serve as a hand grip for theinstrument.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,261,253 7/1966 Ulano 46-l91FOREIGN PATENTS 954,259 4/ 1964 Great Britain.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

L. R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 4619l; 84--410

